Buffalo Bill in North Platte

William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody
considered North Platte, Nebraska, his hometown. North Platte
residents basked in Cody's reflected glory during his lengthy
career as a showman. From the Nebraska State Journal,
November 12, 1893:

"North Platte people are proud of
Buffalo Bill, proud of his world-wide reputation as a showman,
proud of his ability to make money, and proud of the fact that
Bill loves his home town and spends a great deal of his money
here. His neighbors and friends delight to do him honor when
he makes his appearance among them, and therefore when it became
known that Cody would reach home Thursday night of this week
preparations were at once made for a banquet at Lloyd's opera
house Friday night, where he could be warmly welcomed by his
many friends. There is no other place in the city large enough
to accommodate Cody's North Platte friends and the opera house,
which comfortably seats about fifteen hundred, was none too large
last night . . . . Bill was there with his flowing hair, which
is somewhat decorated with silvery threads, for age is beginning
to tell on him. His tall form, graceful bow and hearty handshake
attracted more attention than the food and flowers upon the table.
He was happy to find his friends waiting for his coming, and
the right royal welcome tendered him was gracefully received
and duly appreciated.

"This honor to Cody by his home people
is perfectly proper, for no man has done as much for North Platte
as he, and if he carries out to completion the enterprise he
has planned for improvements here the coming year, much of the
money he has earned in Chicago with his Wild West show [at the
World's Columbian Exposition in 1893] will be used in building
up and beautifying this portion of the state. He has just put
about $15,000 in a beautiful residence and fine barn erected
in the city this year and intends next spring to divide his large
ranch property adjoining the city into eighty acre farms, build
good improvements on each tract, procure good farmers and furnish
them water for irrigating purposes. . . .

"The large two story tallyho coach
Bill brought from Chicago with him attracted more attention on
the streets today than would a herd of buffalo or a band of Sioux
Indians. All citizens will now be treated to a tallyho ride,
for Bill is always free with his favors and never stingy with
anything."